System and means for marking streets



March 20, 1928 1,662,960

J. w. DE FORD SYSTEM AND MEANS FOR MARKING STREETS Filed April 12, 1927 I 22 JAU F 21' 1y 17 1Q 17L We o 6 o 0. wi -IIHlIl1 1 20 17 J9 J 1e 12 9A 20 M Li. =U u V-El -v @QL [i [E] N 214 2'2 14 INVENTOR.

I JZfi/Y 14 flev/ ora DALTON BY A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT, OFFICE.

JOHN w. nn FORD, or Los Anonnns, oALIronnIA.

SYSTEM AND MEANS FOR MARKING STREETS.

. Application filed April 12,

is so designed. as to be thoroughly illumined I by the lights at hand; and in which means the features which render them readily illuniinable also render them readable at a considerable and convenient distance.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an inexpensive and substantially street marker, which may be readily applied or attached to any light post or the like, and which may be readily incorporated integrally with such posts.

Other objects of my invention include economy of installation, economy ofoperation andillu'mination, and accruing advantages both to' the pedestrians and motorists as well as to the municipality or other body which is responsible for installing same.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear hereinafter.

I have illustratedmy inventionby the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view-in elevation of one practicalembodiment of my invention- Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section thereof.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of 'a lighting post to which the said embodiment is applied.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a street intersection showing one practical disposition of light posts of the type shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention for special uses.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a street intersection at which the device shown in Fig. 6 is installed.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of another lamp post showing my invention applied thereto in still another embodiment.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a modified form of the part shown in Fig. 4. r

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, I providethesign 1 in the form. of a rectangular blank of metal bent along its longitudinal median line as at 10, into the form of an inverted V. The lower portions 1927. Serial No. 183,218.

of the V are bent again as at 11 to form vertical portions 12, 12. The inclined portions or sign areas of the blank are indicated at 13 and 14-1'espectively.- I

The name of the street is delineated suitably on each sign area 13 and 14 respectively,

so that the resultant sign or marker may be read from either side.

.Contiguous with the straight or vertical portions 12, 12 I provide for each portion a strap iron or the like, 15, which is riveted to the sign as at 16. Such irons project at each end vbeyondthe sign as at 17 and 18 respectively and are then bowed in semicircular outline as at 19. The bowed portions termia bolt hole 21 through" which a 'bolt 21 is passed. Y

Theinverted V shape of the sign together with the vertical portions thereof provide considerable strength and rigidity; light;

.nate in parallel ends 20 each provided with a provided by the; strap also provides for illumining both sides by a single source of light; as will appear more particularly hereinafter.

The numeral 23 indicates one form of ornamental lighting fixture or post common to municipalities and embodies two arms 24.-

each holding an upright lamp 25..

The sign is held between and below the I on one corner and the other on a diagonally opposed corner. The sign on fixture 27" indicates the name of the street which the sign thereof parallels. The fixture 28 is arranged to parallel the avenue 28 and indicates such avenue. The fixture 27 can be read easily by anyone approaching same on avenue 28 while the fixture 28 is likewise visible to those travelling avenue 27.- Of

course, both are visible as well, but at closer range, by those travelling the same avenue which the sign parallels. In the case of fixtures of the type shown'in Fig. 4, both lamps assist in lighting the sign areas While providing the improved street illumination and the ornamental appearance common to double lights of this type.

In Fig. 6 two signs are shown held by only two strap irons and 15* respectively.

Iron 15 isbent at a right angle as at 30, while the other iron is semicircularly dis-c posed as at 31 and is divided as at 32. The divided portions are held by a bolt as at 33.

This form of sign readily embraces a post 34- sothat one sign is at right angle to the other. 1 Each sign is of the inverted V shape plied to a post such as 36. Such posts are usually found at intersections having an are light (not shown) centrally oft-he street and energized by wires (not shown) which are supported by a pair of posts of the type shown in Fig.8. An overhanging lamp 37 X which the pole supports;

of small power may be placed over the sign shown and may be energized by the wires While the sign shownin Fig. 1, or the sign shown in Fig. 6, may be applied to the post. 36, the embodiment which is actually shown applied to the post in Fig.6, difl'e rs slightlyin design. This sign is constructed so that the strap irons continue from one end only inasmuch as the sign 18 to be held at one point only.

Obviously, numerous other arrangements of my improved sign, either in single or multiple form,-will suggest themselves to the minds of those skilled in thejarts and I do not limit myself to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and may alter or variously arrange the signs as I desire, or as occasion requires, without enlarging the scope of my invention, within the appended claims.

..Anexa11iple of another form of construction is shown in Fig. 9. In this form, the lighting fixture 23 is monolithic or of other suitable integral construct-ion. The sign 1, which is of triangular or inverted V section, is cast or formed integrally with the arms 24. The wording thereon may be delineated in any suitable manner, as. by being painted thereon or cast in relief. a

I claim:

1. In a street marker a plate bent along itslongitudinal median line into inverted V section to provide parallel upwardly converging sign areas; and similar indicia on each sign area whereby the sign may be read from either side and may be illumined from above; the lower portions of each sign area being againbent to form vertically disposed portions running longitudinally of thesign; strap irons, one for, and contiguous to, each vertical portion; said irons each having corresponding ends' projecting beyond the sign and arranged to embrace a post. s

2.T he sign as. in claim 7 and further ineluding a light above said sign having its median line on a plane with tliemedian line toward which the sign areas converge.

.3; The sign as in claim 7 and further including a pair of lights; one at each end of the sign plate and each light having its median line on a plane with the median line toward which the sign areas converge.

4. Street marking and illuminating means comprising in combination a post, a-pair of spaced branching arms to said post, each provided with a light, asign member horizontally disposed between andconnecting said arms; said sign member disposed below 7 said lights and presenting a pair of opposed upwardly converging sprfaces meeting at an. apex below said lights, and similar indicia on each such surface.

JOHN W. DE FORD. 

